Dragonflies and Roses? I supposez!

These are my latest copper and cholla wood sculptures. I've never seen a dragonfly land on a rose bush, but I like the two together. This one is called Dragonflies and Roses (OK, not such an original title). More views at:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/86700716/dragonflies-and-roses-sculpture-copper

The two below are called Dragonfly at Rest, and Dragonfly & Rose (Variation on a theme). But I think these types of titles get found easier on web searches, so there is method to my madness.
More views: http://www.etsy.com/listing/86699684/dragonfly-sculpture-copper-and-cholla?ref=v1_other_2
http://www.etsy.com/listing/86700250/dragonfly-and-rose-sculpture-copper-and?ref=v1_other_2

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com
Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com

Labradorite, I love the glow!

Labradorite can produce a colorful play of light across cleavage planes and in sliced sections called labradorescence. The usually intense colors range from the typical blues and violets through greens, yellows and oranges. Some rare specimens display all these colors simultaneously. (scientific explanation below picture for those not bored to tears by this first paragraph).

With jewelry, it's all about color and flash. This stone has it all. Below are some pieces I made recently. I've included some Blue Topaz accent stones in some of the pieces. I love this combination.
More Views:
A  http://www.etsy.com/listing/86698891/labradorite-and-sterling-silver-ring
B  http://www.etsy.com/listing/86698724/labradorite-and-sterling-silver-ring
D  http://www.etsy.com/listing/86698398/labradorite-and-sterling-silver-pendant
E  http://www.etsy.com/listing/86698724/labradorite-and-sterling-silver-ring
C and F are sold

The color display is from lamellar intergrowths inside the crystal. These intergrowths result from compatible chemistries at high temperatures becoming incompatible at lower temperatures and thus a separating and layering of these two phases. The resulting color effect is caused by a ray of light entering a layer and being refracted back and forth by deeper layers. This refracted ray is slowed by the extra travel through the layers and mixes with other rays to produce a light ray coming out that has a different wavelength than when it went in.

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com
Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com

Rescued! Am I a Hero?

No, I'm not a hero, but I am frugal. The jewelry pieces shown below are all rescued orphans. for one reason or another. Things don't always work out as planned; Three of the pieces below had stones that cracked (two from the heat generated while polishing, and one that I broke while trying to remove it from the metal). Two of the rings were started and forgotten (I have been a negligent creator at times). And one pendant was soldered with the bezel flipped (rookie error on my part).

Ah, but I, like the mad scientists who built the Six Million Dollar Man knew I could rebuild them! Yes, I cut new stones for five of the seven pieces and finished the metal for the other two.

The ring and pendant on the left are Amber. This particular amber reminds me of champagne; it is nearly clear with little bubbles throughout. The two red-brown rings are crazy lace agate. The three pendants on the right are Citron Chrysoprase. These pieces are now available in my Etsy and Artfire shops.

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com
Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com

The Last Time I Posted I was a Year Younger!

OK, not actually a year, but I did have a birthday since then so numerically I was . . . never mind, I was just trying to get your attention. It really has been a while since I last posted, so now I'm going to drive you nuts with a series of posts. I've been busy, of course; what artist or crafter is not busy this time of year? I've been making jewelry and sculptures.

These pieces are Larimar, an opaque stone in pleasing patterns of blue and greenish blue similar to the color of the ocean in tropical climates. Larimar was named by a Dominican for LARIssa his daughter and MAR the Spanish word for sea. Larimar came on the market in the1970's and has to date only been found in the Dominican Republic.

 The pendant at far left has a garnet accent stone, the pendant just off center has a Lemon Citrine accent stone. The stone in the ring on the far right is huge. These pieces are available in my Etsy and Artfie shops.

 

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com
Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com